Core barrel



Sept. 19, 1939. w. E. BOYD l 2,173,577

Y GORE BARREL Fliled June 20, i933 2 Sheets-Sheet l 'HOM 56.

y I 3mm/doo@ 1 4' -WILLIAM E Bovo.

, fat/15M d@ 6M sept. 19, 1939.

n w. E. BOYD CORE BARREL Filed June 20, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIV gill' illlm:

Nel'

WILLIAM E Bovn.

Patented Sept. 19, 1939 William E. Boyd, Shreveport, ILL, aligner. to The Brewster Company, Inc., Shreveport, In.,

a corporation oi' Lo Application June 20, 1933, Serial No. 676,666

23 Claims.. (Cl. 2155-72) f 'Ihe invention relates to an improvement 'in core barrels and is directed-to novel latching,

driving, and recovering mechanisms for the core barrel. It is one of the objects of the invention to provide an improved form of. retrieve release for the core barrel so that 4the retrieving tool may be repeatedly released from the core barrel in event the barrel becomes rmly lodged in the core bit and can not be withdrawn.

Another object of the invention is to provide a latching mechanism to hold the core barrel in position with the driving bushing so that there may be a slidable driving connection.

Another object of the invention is to provide a two-part'drive bushing so that the core barrel may be caused to rotate with the core drill and have vertical sliding movement with respect to the core drill during the rotation thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a seal between the core barrel and the drive bushing so that circulation of iluid may be cut off, when the core barrel is in its lowermost extended posltion.`

Another object is to provide a seal between the core barrel and the drive bushing so that the ow of uid is cut off when a Very soft formation is encountered by the core barrel which permits the core barrel to move to its lowermost position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a core drill and core barrel wherein the circulation of fluid will be automatically cut of! when a Very soft formation is encountered so that the circulating'iuid will not wash away the core.

The present invention relates to somewhat similar subject matter to that disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 629,823, filed August 22, 1932.

The invention will be readily understood by reference -to .the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section and showing the overshot or retrieving tool.

i "oir the new of liquid when the core barrel is 55 Fig. s a a sectional view snowing the retrievlxg in its lowermostl position.

tool in position to remove the core barrel from the core drill.

Fig. 7 is a side 'elevation partly in section oi the two-part driving bushing.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional assembly view ot .5

the entire core drilland core barrel.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation oi the improved form of core catcher whichnmy be used in the core barrel.

" Fig. 10-is a section taken on ithe Ii-il 01.10

Fig. 9 and showing the arrangement o! the iingers in the core catcher. f

By having reference to Fig.' 8, the core drill is indicated generally at 2 and comprises the drm head s, the drm collar .4, and the drin sub 16 5, all of which are connected in the order named to the drill stem 6. Disposed inside of thiscore drill is the drive bushing 8, which is made up of the drive sleeve l and the'.` driven sleeve il. "I'he driven sleeve' I6 being normally urged .down- 20 wardly against the drive Isleeve i by means of the spring Ii which abuts against the lower en of the drill sub l. y The core barrel is indicated generally at il and is arranged to move into the core drill by the drive bushing l. This limits the downward I0 movement of the core barrel and is so constructed that when the core barrel is in its lowermost position the latch 2l will move outwardly from the core barrel and will catch beneath the rim 2l of the driven bushing il to prevent up- 35 ward movement of the core barrel except in combination with the driven bushing Il. 'I'he latch 2l is engaged by the driven bushing il so that the core barrel will be caused to rotate with the core drill.

The drill bitmay be formed in any desired manner and is provided viritlrthe es 2 6 so that liquid may be circulated during the drilling and coring operations to wash away the cuttings from thebit. Y f

lThe drill collar 4 has the drive bushing i dis-' posed therein and preferably-iixed to the drill collar by means'of anchor bolts 21 so that the drive bushing-will be fixed in the drill collar as to elevation and rotation. bushing t is provided with the outstanding. 1w

Il, which are best seen in Fig. 5 and form the shoulder Il which receives the shoulder i1 formed on the core barrel. It willbe noted that the passages Il are The inside of the lo formed between the lugs!! ,f

that when-the shoulder of the core barrel seats on the shoulders I8 the shoulder I1 extends radially beyond the passages and serves to cut o any iiow of liquid through these passages. 'I'his construction forms a seal at this point which is. of advantage when the core barrel strikes a very soft formation and is moved downwardly by the spring II because as soon as the core barrel -moves to its full extended position the shoulder I1 engages the shoulder I8 and cuts o any ow of liquid. Thus the ilow of liquid to the drill bit could be cut oi automatically whenever the core barrel strikes a very soft formation and even before the operator is aware of this fact. The engagement of the shoulders I1 and I8 may also be used to indicate to the driller when the core barr'e1`has landed in position .when it is :Erst inserted, because the circulation ofliquid is thenv Y rotation of the drive bushing 9 is imparted't the drive bushing I8 bythe engagement oi the parts 28 and 38. Ihese parts may engage along the entire length of their contactingfaces 8| when the drive bushings are in the position shown in Fig. 9. The upper end of the driven bushing I8- is in the form of a sleeve which has the overhangingrim 2I, which is arranged to7receive the latch 28 thereunder, and in this manner prevent upward movement of the core barrel. A drive lug 32 is shown as position inside of the ldriven bushing .I8 and upon rotation of the bushing this lug 32 will engage the latch 28 and impart to the core barrel the rotation of the core drill. s

The spring II normallyvbears against the upper end of the driven bushing I8 and tends to urge this bushing into the position shown in Figs. 7

'and 8, the upper end of thel spring abutting against :the lower end oi' the -drill sub 8 so that the .spring is-conned in this area. Of course, when the cutting end I8 of the core barrel engages a formation to cut the'coie there will be Isome resistance to penetration and this will be taken up by the spring Il?. When the core barrel moves -upwardly upon encountering the formation the latch 28 will engage the rim 2I and -cause'the driven bushing I8 to move upwardly with the core barrel against the resistance of the spring I I..

In' this manner if a very hardformation is l encountered the core drill can move up into the bit head 3 so that the bit head'will'take the en.- tire thrust caused by the weight of the drill pipe 8: The spring II .normally urges the cutting end I8 of the core barrel against the formation and, if desired, it may be constructed so that the end of the corebarrel projects'ahead of the cutting faces of the core drill 8 or it maybe con-L structed so that in normal cutting position the core barrel is flush with the core drill.

The. valve 38 maybe positioned in the core barrel so that the vliquid being pumped into the well will not enter the core barrel and so that any liquid forced out of the core barrel by the entrance of the core will escape past the valve 88.-

The latching mechanism is best seen in section in Fig.v 2 and includes the Xstem 48 which isattached to the barrelportion 4I of the'core barrecess 88.

rel I8. This stem is arranged to have telescoped thereover the sleeve 42 which serves to accommodate the latch 28 and moveit to retracted position when the core barrel is to be retrieved after the core has been cut. The latch- 28 includes- .the dog 48 which is pivoted at 44l in the vstem 48 and is normally urged outwardly by the spring 48. This dog is, of course, disposed in the recess 48v in the stem 48. The sleeve 42 has an opening 41 therein through which the dog 43 is adaptedto project when the opening 41 is at the proper elevation. When, however, the sleeve 42 is telescoped upwardly with respect to the stem 48 the edge 48 at the lower side ofthe opening 41 engages the curved portion 48of the dog at 48 and cams the dog inwardly to withdraw it from beneath therim 2I on thedriven bushing I8. Thus, in order to allow ythe latch to move outwardly it is only necessary for the sleeve 42 to telescope downwardly on the stem 48 to the position' shown in Fig. 2 and, to release the latch, the sleeve 42 need only be moved upwardly to sleeve.

The relative sliding movement of the stem 48 and the sleeve 42 is limited by means of the slot Y'cause the dog 48 to move into the confines of the ,the sleeve 42 the trip release mechanism is indicated generally at 88. 'I'his release mechanism includes the rod 88' which is provided with the head 81 and the enlargedportion 88.y 'Ihe enlarged portion is slidably arranged within the upper end of the sleeve 42 but. is limited as to sliding movement by the upper seat 88 nd the lowerseat 88. These seats serve to co enlargedportion' 88 because of the flange 8| thereoniwhich is arranged to engage eitherxthe seat 88 or the seat 88. Arranged on this enlarged portion 88 are the latch rings 82 vand 83, which are in the form of spring rings disposed ina groove in the rod. Each of these rings are arrangedv to spring outwardly into a recess such as 84 in the central' portion of' the sleeve 82 or the recess 88V at the upper end of the sleeve. YThe ring 88 isl shown as seated in its recess 84 in Fig. 2. and in Fig. 6 the rod is shown as moved to its uppermost position with'thev ring 82 seated in its The differences in 'diameter lbetween the rod 88 andthe enlarged portion 88 iorm a shoulder 50 81, upon which the release nipple 88 will normally rest. This nippleis slidably mounted upon' the rod 88 and is provided to release the overshot or retrieving tool 18 from the core barrel when the core barrel can notrbe removed as in- 58 tended. 'I'he release nipple 88 isof substantially the same diameter as the largest portion of the head 81.

The overshot 18 carries a hollow tube 1I on its lower end whichis provided with a plurality 01'60 pawls 12 which are arranged to engage beneath the head 81, as seen in Fig. 6, in order to exert. an upward pull on the core barrel -to retrieve it after the core has been taken. 'I'he parts in Fig.

6 are arranged in substantially tle position hey- 65 in the sleeve 42- until the ange 8l engagg the will be noted that the rod 88. has moved upwaXrdly, 70

upper seat 88.- This makes a positive connection and 'a considerable-pull can 'then be exertedV on the retrieving tool l18 by means of hecable 18,

In some instances where sand or other matefs rials have lodged about the dore barrel or where it becomes otherwise wedged in position, it is impossible to at rst remove the core barrel when it is engaged by the retrieving tool. Obviously it is desirable then to release the retrieving'tool from the core barrel and with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 6 the cable 13 may be slacked oi so that the weight of the retrieving tool 10 will cause it to slide downwardly with respect to the rod 56, so that the pawls 12 will be moved outwardly and serve to grip the release nipple G8. It will be remembered that the rod 56 is held in its uppermost position because the spring ring 62 has been received into its recess 65.

When the pawls 12 have moved outwardly and are frictionally engaging the release nipple 58 the retrieving tool can be again raised with respect to the core barrel. Inasmuch as the dogs 12 are pressing against the release nipple 68, this nipple will slide upwardly with the retrieving tool until it abuts against the underside of the head 51. This stops the sliding movement of the release nipple and the pawls 12 are in this manner caused to slide over the head 51 so'that the retrieving tool`is completely released. 0f course, the release nipple will then drop by gravity to theposition shown in Fig. 6 and if desired the retrieving tool can be removed from the well and if it is determined that the core barrel can not be removed, then the entire drill stem and core drill can be withdrawn and the core barrel removed. In many instances, ghowever, it is desirable to make a number of attempts to release the core barrel and if this is desired the retrieving tool can be raised and lowered inside of the stem so that it will strike the head 51 and cause the rod to move downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2, or the retrieving toolmay be again lowered over the rod 56 until it engages the upper end 15 of the sleeve 42,. When in this position, if the reis cut orf when the .core barrel is bination driving and latch bushing in said drillv comprising two interfitting semi-circular portions, one of which is driven by the core drill 'and the other of which serves to drive the core barrel.

2. A core drilling assembly including a core drill, a core barrel carried` thereby, and a combination driving and latch bushing in said drill comprising two interfitting semi-circular portions, one of which is driven by the core drill and the other lof which serves to drive the core barrel, said portions having a sliding engagement whereby said core barrel may have limited movement relative to said core drill.

3. A drive mechanism for core barrels including a drive bushing anchored in the core drill and having an upstanding driving portion, a driven bushing slidalaly mounted in the core drill and having a downwardly extending complementary portion to be engaged by said driving portion on said drive bushing, and means on said driven bushing to impart rotation to the core barrel.

4. A drive mechanism for core barrels including a drive bushing anchored in lthe core drill and having an upstanding driving portion, a driven bushing slidably mounted in the core drill and having a downwardly extending complementary portion to be engaged by said driving portion on said drive bushing, means whereby on said driven bushing Vto impart rotation to the core barrel, and additional means to normally urge said driven bushing downwardly.v v

.5. In a core drilling assembly a core drill, a core barrel adapted to be disposed therein, a drive bushing to cause said core barrel to rotate with said core drill, and co-engaglng sealing shoulders on saidA core barrel and said bushing whereby` the cirulation of liquid thru said bit in its lowermost position.

6. In a. core drilling assembly a core drill, a

core barrel adapted to be disposed therein, a

mechanism for the core barrell adapted also to impart a Jar to the core barrel.

11. A co're drilling construction including a s core barrel, means tolimit the downward movef ment of the core barrel withrespect to the core drill, said means tending to center the core barrel inthe drill and to also cut of! the circulation of liquid to the drill as an indication to the operator that the core barrel is irrits lowermost position. v

12. A combination latch and drive `means for wire line core barrels including a latch and drive member carried on the core barrel structures. sleeve about the core barrel structure, and means whereby the sleeve is slidable to engage and retract said member when the core barrel is to be released. l

13. ri jar release for wire line core barrels 'wherein a latch on the co're barrel engages a driving means in the coredrill, comprisinga sleeve connected to the retrieving mechanism and movable thereby-to retract. said latch'and jar-thecore barrel. v 14. A retrieving head for wire line core barrels including a sleeve carried by the upper end of the core barrel, a rodf-slidable therein, a pair of spaced grooves inside of said sleeve, and a pair of expansible rings on s'aid rod, one o f which is adapted to fit in each of said grooves whereby saidrod may be position.

15. In combination with a retrievable core barrel, a retrieving tool receivingmember, and means to position said member on.l the core barrel in either retrieving tool receiving or releasing position. e 18. In a rotary drill of-the class described the combination including a drill stem having a sleeve mounted interiorly thereof and arranged for yieldable movement in the direction of the axis of the drill stem and being nonrotatable with respect thereto, an interior abutment thereinspaced from said sleeve, of a eorevbarrel as- Amovable fromv said drill stem having a boring tool normally extending below the end of thedrill stem, and meansonl said core barrel assembly arranged to .engage the abutment on said drill stem to limit movement of said core barrel assembly past said sleeve in the direction of said abutment, and means on said core barrel assembly arranged for reieasable engagement with said sleeve. 2

17. In a rotary drill of the class described the combination including a drill stem having a sleeve mounted interiorly thereof and arranged.

for yieldable-movement in the direction of the axis of the drill stem and being non-rotatable with respect thereto, an interior abutment therein spaced from saidsleeve, of a core barrel assembly arranged to be insertable within and removable from said drill stem having a boring tool normally extendlngLbelow the end of the drill stem, and means on said core barrel assembly arranged to engage the abutment on saidv drill stem to limit 'movement of said core barrel assembly past said sleeve vin the direction of said sembly arranged for releasable engagement with yieldably urged towardsaidabutment. v

' 18. ma rotary drill of theclass described the eombinationincluding a drill stem having a y e 'sleeve mounted interiorly thereof and arranged the drill stem when hard formations arefnenn f held in either or lowered l being hollow so that the core serted or withdrawn. sembly arranged to be in sertable within and reabutment, and means o n said core barrel asfor yieldable movement in the direction 'of the vaxis of the -drill stem and being non-rotatable ment on .said drill stem'fto limit movement of said core barrel assembly past said sleeve in the direction of said abutment, and means onv said core barrel assembly arranged for reieasable engagement with said sleeve whereby said core barrel assembly is yieldably extended beyond the 'end of the drill stem.

19. In a rotary drill of the classdescribed the combination of a drill stem assembly having an internal sleeve, said sleeve being arranged for `limited longitudinal movement with respectto said stem, and being non-rotatable independently of said stem; yieldable means interiorly of said drill stem assembly urging said sleeve longitudinally thereof; `ank abutment interiorly of said assembly and spaced from said sleeve; a core barrel assembly arranged to be, insertable within said drill stem assembly and removable therefrom and means releasably interconnectingl said core barrel assembly and said sleeve whereby said core barrel assembly is yieldably` urgedl beyond tlie end of the drillstem assembly.

20. The combination with 4a rotary drill stem, of a core barrel rotatable with the stem, a member slidable longitudinally within the stem, movable means carried by the core barrel and covoperable with said member for detachably Securing the core barrel within said member, and yieldable means mounted in the stem normally urging said membertdownwardly, said yieldable means being adapted to, permit the core barrel and said member to m ve upwardly a limited distance relativelyto th stem upon encounterl ing a hardA formation, said member and means barrel may be in- 21. A rotary drill including a drill stem, a core barrel rotatable with the drill stem and normally projecting below the latter, and means for detachably securingI the core barrel within the stem, said means comprising a sleeve carried by, the Adrill stem andv reciprocable therein, a spring in the drill stem, and a latch movably mounted on the core barrel for engaging said sleeve to prevent upward movement of the core barrel with respect to the sleeve, said spring serving to exertl a downward pressure upon the4 sleeve and to yield upwardlyy when hard formations are encountered by the'core barrel to permit the core barrel to withdraw into the drilllstem.

22. A rotary drill including a drill stein having a shoulder therein, a core barrel rotatable with the stem, a sleeve vertically movable in thel drill' stem below said shoulder, a spring in said drill stem between the sleeve and shoulder, 'a dog pivotally carried by the core barrel, a releasing device movable with respect to the "dog, and yieldable means cooperating with the dog to yieldably hold it in operative. position, said core barrel being insertable downwardly in the drill stem into operative position andsaid dog being movable underneath the sleeve when the core barrel is in said position; said spring serving to exert a downward-fpressure on the core 'barrel .and to yield upwardly to permit thelatter jto withdraw into tive position upon upward movement of 'said releasing device and said core barrel being removable upwardly through the drill stem by an upward pull on the releasing device.

23. In a rotary drill of the class described, the

combination including a. drill stem having a sleeve mounted interiorly thereof and arranged for yieldable movement in the direction of the o axis of the drill stem, an interior abutment on the drill stem, of a core barrel assembly arranged to be insertable within and removable fromsaid drill stem and being rotatable with the latter, said core barrelr having aboring tool normally extending below the end of the drill stem, means on said core barrel assembly arranged to engage the abutment on said drill stem to limit movement of the core barrel assemblyv past said sleeve in the direction of the abutment. and

means on said core barrel assembly arranged for releasable engagement with said sleeve.

' WILLIAM E. BOYD. 

